N°19 Poudré is the latest fragrance release from Chanel and is the first flanker to the original N°19 fragrance which was released in 1971.
As the name suggests N°19 Poudré is intended as a softer, more powdery version of the original and is an attempt by the brand to rejuvenate and modernise the image of the N°19 line.
Chanel describes N°19 Poudré as:
“A Floral-Powdery-Green fragrance that reveals a new powdery-musky facet.
The voluptuous scent of a bouquet of Iris blends with the freshness of a breeze of Vetiver roots: an enveloping, powdery fullness softened by White Musk notes.
N°19 POUDRÉ: within the smoothest, silkiest whisper lies the boldness of a legendary accord.” [1]
The Notes
Neroli, Galbanum, Jasmine, Iris, White Musk, Vetiver and Tonka Bean [2]
How Does it Smell?
I had high expectations for this one, Chanel are renowned for quality and the majority of their fragrances are well made and more than a few are considered as classics. I am a big fan of N°19, it is my second favourite Chanel (after Coco) and unfortunately N°19 Poudré fails to even come close to the greatness of the original.
There is a distinct flash of N°19 in the top notes, but it is fleeting, blink and you’ll miss it. What makes the original N°19 so great is the harsh overdose of galbanum that makes it smell ‘bitchy’, it’s a force to be reckoned with and you wouldn’t want to go up against anybody who wears it, It’s strong but feminine. There is galbanum in N°19 Poudré but it only really shows itself briefly during the top notes and isn’t anywhere near as concentrated as the galbanum in the original.
The main player here is the iris, it comes through very quickly and stays for the majority of the development. The iris is slightly rooty and interestingly it doesn’t feel that powdery, it feels clean and there is a definite soapiness to it that I find quite disappointing. The iris is the biggest let down here and compared to the iris used in the new Shalimar Parfum Initial it feels quite cheap.
Vetiver becomes very prominent in the base notes and for a minute you can sense the similarity between Poudré and the original, but only for a minute. The vetiver is blended with a very soft, clean musk, that whilst not being overly interesting it is fairly pleasant. The base lingers for a good few hours but it stays very close to the skin.
N°19 Poudré is not a bad fragrance, all the notes fit together nicely and it smells like a pretty green floral of high quality. I doubt that it will strike a chord with N°19 fans, it is a much lighter, softer version, but for those who find the original too harsh, Poudré may be worth trying. N°19 Poudré is N°19 in pastel shades but I like my N°19 in strokes of vivid green.
Availibility
Chanel N°19 Poudré is available in 50ml and 100ml Eau de Parfum and it is just starting to hit the department stores now. Prices range from £61 to £86.
Disclaimer
This review is based on a sample sprayed in store.
[1] Chanel.com
[2] Now Smell This
Image 1 tatteredtourniquet.blogspot.com
Image 2 ivenus.com
The Candy Perfume Boy 